Verb Bookstore and Café has reopened in a new location in downtown Jonesboro, Ark. Owner Sari Harlow told Jonesboro Right Now: "We're excited to be downtown and joining this part of the community. We're ready to grow into the next stage of what our little business has to offer Jonesboro."
 |
|
| Owner Sari Harlow outside Verb's new location. | |
With the move to 316 S. Main St., Verb is making some changes to its model, including implementing a self-serve drink station. "We now have what we're calling our BYOB, build your own beverage, section. We've got hot chocolate, espresso and K-Cups and we'll have hot tea selections as well. We're going to keep growing and expanding that area, but it's all self-serve," Harlow said.
She added: "We're just trying to get our focus back on being the best little independent bookstore that we can be. We're all about our mission, which is to read books, share stories and connect communities. We believe love is a verb."
Harlow recalled that after business difficulties last September, she decided something had to change: "That moment was definitely the catalyst to us understanding that we couldn't continue on as we were. We were at that crisis point of we either need to decide to make some big moves and shake things up and really, really change up how we're doing business, or it might be time to, as I put in a post, 'Hang up my book fairy wings.' "
Several opportunities presented themselves, including the availability of the new location. "Some friends that work downtown too, told us about it and it all just kind of lined up and worked out," she recalled. "I know some people have had concerns about us moving downtown because they assumed it cost so much more downtown, but it really isn't. It's the same as we were paying previously."
Harlow noted that while she had some concerns about making the move, "I was like, 'Right now, downtown Jonesboro needs this extra little boost of life, and we need community.' We've got so many other small businesses around us, and we're really thrilled to make this move and see what 2025 brings for us."